Penny Pinching Patio Project – 5 min project that cost a $1 April 2, 2013

Home with a sick kid today but I thought we needed to get out for a bit. After playing on the trampoline for a bit we went over to check out the project patio. I had some potting soil left from last season and an empty flower pot. We plated the harlequin flowers that I had gotten the baby for Easter at the Dollar Tree.

 

It does not look like much now but in a few weeks should add some color and softness to the patio. The green pot helps add some color too! This project used soil and a pot that I had from last year so the only cost I had was the cost of the flowers – $1! The flowers say they attract birds and butterflies so that should be an added bonus.

Homemade sports drink – 2 quarts for less then a $1

I am on my last day of Spring Brake and home with a sick kid. We do not drink sports drinks often but when the kids or I get sick we like to have them around. (I crave the red kind when I am sick). I have been wanting to try this for several months because I know it is so much cheaper.

I looked online and found LOTS of recipes for sports drinks. This one was simple so I went with it. The recipe is from the post Homemade Gatorade on the blog Living on a Dime.

Homemade Gatorade

2 quarts water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-2 teaspoons salt
7 Tablespoons sugar
1 packet Sugar-Free Kool-Aid

NOTE: We like it better with 1 teaspoon of salt. I also made some without the baking soda and it was fine too (I had two things of corn starch and no baking soda – that is just plane crazy!)

 

After voting today my son and I went to Dollar General and got some Wyler’s dink mix for $.13 a pack (Kool Aid cost more and I like Wyler’s better anyway). The cost of the salt, sugar, and baking soda could not be much so we got 2 quarts of Sports Drink for way less then what one single serving would cost at the store!

Thinking this would be fun to make into ice cubes to put in the kids water in the summer as a treat on HOT HOT Missouri days. Also would be a treat to put in the kids water cooler I put outside for them when we stay out all day. Most they time it will be good old H2O but this would be fun to make it the night before and drink it the next day.

 

 

Penny Pinching Patio Project – Sidewalk Chalk Organization

This is the mess of sidewalk chalk we had. The kids love the stuff (so do I it is cheep fun) but it is hard to keep track of. In an effort to get the outside toys in order I wanted to get it under control. In comes the baby wipe container…….

You can’t tell but the big pieces are in two nice piles with the little leftover bits on the top!  All in one nice place that both big kids and hold easy and open with out help. Easy and FREE!

 

Penny Pinching Patio Project – First day of hands on workings!!

Last Friday was a wonderful day! It was 62 outside and sunny.  Hard to think that we had 6 in of snow on the ground on Monday and my husband and daughter had a snow day.  We got a lot started today.

THE SHED!

I said something about how ugly the shed was and my husband got up and left the deck where we where sitting watching the kids play. When he came back he had some white spray paint and started painting the side of the shed.  He used one can and it made a HUGE difference. He just did the rusty part and it looks sooooo much better!

He only did the top left corner but it looks so good.  We are only going to do the side you can see from out house and the road and see how far we get with the spray paint we have. So far this project is Free but we will see what it costs in the end.

THE TRAMP!

So we moved the tramp so you can’t see it from the road. It is now just about the only think I can see when I look out my back door but that is ok. (I think this means that the kids have won and are now going to take over EVERYTHING).

The best part about this is the kids can get in from the deck. My 4 year old does not need help and I don’t have to be outside to see them. I can see them from the family room and the kitchen so if I need to get something done they can still play! Another wonderful thing about this is if the yard is muddy they can get to the tramp and stay clean!

 

The kids and I also swept all the leaves off of our patio so it is ready to be worked on! I can feel the excitement! Now to get the pallets from my step dad.

 

Holiday on a Dime – Easter

We have never gotten our kids a bunch of “stuff” for Easter. I saw this Nony’s post Non-Clutter Easter Baskets and gave it a read. I was happy to find out that I was doing the suggestions posted! This year I got things for the kids baskets only from the Dollar Tree (one think was from Dollar General) and I tried to stay with an outside theme.

 The Big Kid Baskets!

Most everything in their baskets we are also going to use as a part of my Penny Pinching Patio Project. They all got flower bulbs that we need to plant soon with the spades and knee boards I got them. I liked the metal flowers to add some fun color! In the baskets there are also some deli baskets that the kids love to eat out of. There are several restaurants that puts their kids meals in them. The kids have wanted them for a long time and will be good to eat outside with.

The babies basket

The kids are excited to plant and so am I!  Now if it was just warm today. Right now it is 31 out side.